Organ involvement and laboratory abnormalities associated with tuberculosis disease in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most common infectious diseases in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and often has severe and devastating manifestations. This study aimed to systematically investigate the association between organ involvement and laboratory abnormalities in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with tuberculosis disease (TB).
Relevant studies were obtained from electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and EBSCO from inception to November 2024. The primary outcome was the odds ratio (OR) of TB incidence associated with organ involvement and laboratory abnormalities. Quality of studies was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). A meta-analysis was performed using R.
Fourteen studies with a total of 5,626 adult SLE patients were included, of whom 514 (9.14%) were male. Renal involvement was the only organ involvement that was significantly associated with TB (OR = 1.53; 95%CI:1.01-2.32; I2=76%). Among laboratory parameters, lymphopenia (OR = 2.21; 95%CI:1.42-3.42; I2=26%) and anemia (OR = 1.73; 95%CI:1.16-2.58; I2=21%) showed a significant association with TB. No significant associations were found for other organs or laboratory abnormalities.
Renal involvement, lymphopenia, and anemia could be notable risk factors for TB in patients with SLE, suggesting enhanced awareness of these indicators to minimize the risk of TB in patients with SLE.